Christ and kendo?

[DaQo'tah]

hi this is DaQo'tah

Im a Christian, so I dont go in for all the "inner force" stuff that so many in Kendo seem to push on students....

Im thinking about starting to take a beginners Kendo class this winter, but from what I have read about some of the ideas behind Kendo, Im not sure how my Christian faith will be able to sit still ....

I have been reading about some of the ways guys from Japan have for prayer or meditation,,,and it seems to go very much against my views as a Born-Again Christian....also if my kendo teacher tries to push that type of teaching on me, I may very well feel the need to "correct" his teachings to the class.

How do Christians work and learn within a system that seems very far from the cross of Christ...

I want to learn kendo,,,,I just dont want to have to listen to any stuff that goes against my Christian faith.....

How is this done?

[Kote-Men]

nooo i think you have misunderstood something...


we dont force religion on you!

and i have never heard of 'inner force'..... where'd you read that?

its true that we zen meditate but thats to clear your mind

We have a very strong Christian in our dojo, there isn't a problem

Japanese culture and religion has left its mark on Kendo, but we won't brainwash you!!! :devious: hehhehehehh

[Swissv2]

You will be meditating just to relax your mind, not to pray to a deity.

[DaQo'tah]

Inner force is my way of talking about .....(here you will see the reason I came up with inner force),,,,,talking about "Ge?...Key?.Che?..ghee?

something like that anyway....I have been watching a kendo video I got last week from Ebay,,,the whole tape is in Japinase with subtitles,,,but it did seem that the teacher worked his "inner power", or inner force,,,ideas into about every lesson on the tape...

also the tape dealt a lot with the meditation, the right way to sit on your feet,,the right way to hold your hands,,,I dont have a problem with sitting on the floor, nor with holding my hands in any odd ways,,,,But the "empty your mind" stuff seems to not really be something we do in my church,,,,

How do Christians meditate in a "helpfull to kendo" manner, yet not go into all the darker "ghee" teachings?

[Kote-Men]

hmmm i think maybe this inner force you mention might be kiai?


kiai=spirit. When you attack, you say (or scream) the target name.

In our dojo warmup, if you don't have good kiai, you do the whole suburi again!

*i hate doing Joua Suburi (misspelled) by myself 50 times in front of everyone

it seems to me like youre worrying about kendo a bit too much

you will be alright....

anyway, in the beginning, if you try to learn without a sensei present you might develop a bad habit!

[Kote-Men]

Wow, I would be really glad if you joined our dojo.


It is quite rarely that we get a studen that wants to learn something called kendo.

After Kill bill and the last samurai, dear lord..

80% of the students we now recieve want to be Tom Cruise or Uma Thurman.

80% of those students leave within a month. Kendo is not like what you see in the movies.

When sword-fighting was young, and something called guns werent around, fights lasted a couple seconds, rarely more.

In kendo, they are much longer, not at all like some 20 minute fight scenes we see in our major motion pictures.

matches are usually less then 5 minutes, but fighting for 5 minutes in that heavy bogu (armor) can get you tired!!!

[Nanbanjin]

hi this is DaQo'tah

Im a Christian, so I dont go in for all the "inner force" stuff that so many in Kendo seem to push on students....


The "force" is from Star Wars, not kendo. You are not the first person to confuse the two.


Im thinking about starting to take a beginners Kendo class this winter, but from what I have read about some of the ideas behind Kendo, Im not sure how my Christian faith will be able to sit still ....


Don't take a beginner's class then.


I have been reading about some of the ways guys from Japan have for prayer or meditation,,,and it seems to go very much against my views as a Born-Again Christian....


Don't meditate then.


also if my kendo teacher tries to push that type of teaching on me, I may very well feel the need to "correct" his teachings to the class.


Is kendo covered in the bible?


How do Christians work and learn within a system that seems very far from the cross of Christ...



No idea.


I want to learn kendo,,,,I just dont want to have to listen to any stuff that goes against my Christian faith.....

How is this done?

Again, no idea. I can't see the conflict that you are alluding to.
Maybe there is someone out there who understands what you mean.

[Kote-Men]

okay this is a bit randomn, but how do you get those boxes in that say 'quote:'


nanbanjim, Daquota *sry* is very open minded about kendo and is trying to sort something out.. try to havea little respect.


anyway...


kendo philosphy is not to be confused with religion. Meditate to clear mind. The only thing that should come outside with you is zanshin, and i think thats the only thing that kendo gives you helps to protect yourself. I mean when a gangsta pulls a knife on you, chances are you arent going to be carrying a shinken around, and

i think it's against the law to walk around in the street with a shinken





just bought a Yoko Kanno soundtrack , its great

[Sentunim]

Well, if you make some quick connections... Jesus born in the middle east, israel/palestine - the tribes of israel separate - one tribe, known as the monks of nara go to japan - japan invents kendo. So its not really that far off is it? Well kinda.

By the way I don't know if the monks of nara were really a lost israeli tribe, I just read that in a few places, but they seemed a bit seedy.

[Nanbanjin]

okay this is a bit randomn, but how do you get those boxes in that say 'quote:'



Start the quote with the word QUOTE in square brackets.
End with the /QUOTE in square brackets.
Start with QUOTE=Name in square brackets if you want the quote to have the "originally posted by Name" bit included.

[Kote-Men]

japanese people were originally from israel????


i

never

knew that....

they look a little

different.. That freaks me

out! My writing is shaped in a pyramid!

[Kote-Men]

hey it works hehhe

thanks a lot

[Nanbanjin]

japanese people were originally from israel????


i

never

knew that....

they look a little

different.. That freaks me

out! My writing is shaped in a pyramid!

Your new age writing style is conflicting with my beliefs as a born again hater of new age writing styles. Please edit and repent before it's too late.

[Kote-Men]

[QOUTE] never!!!!! [/QUOTE]


Someone

Please Tell Me

If Subscribing To Kendo

World Magazine is Worth it,

Since it costs a lot, and issues dont

come that often, please answer.

[DaQo'tah]

yes, how do you make that quote box with my words in it?...

okay, I will meditate on things I need to think about,,,that should ork fine..after all, placeing a small child in his "Time Out" corner is about the same as telling the child to meditate anyway,,,LOL

I seek to learn Kendo for 3 reasons (yes, I have been thinking of this answer for a while now)

reason 1- it is a cool thing to learn, and it fits with my other hobby of knife and sword making.

many people have asked me about making a Japan long sword, and before I try that type of challenge, I wanted to understand a bit more about the deeper study of kendo. also, kendo is real,,,,I see a lot of the sword tricks on Tv and I see a Lot of long swords made to sell that are just junk, and I reject that stuff ,,,I want my study of the sword to be based in a "real-ness"...kendo allows the use of "full power"...and thats the way I think I need to go...

reason 2- kendo is a good workout. from what I have learned, kendo is good to get the blood pumping,,,way better than what I do now, (YMCA where I sit on a bike and peddle to nowhere)

reason 3....Might help calm me the heck down...

from my reading, the ideas and teachings important to kendo, also seem to help people be more calm, yet able to react faster....this is something I could use help with in my life....

[nodachi]

Just a few quick comments...

Think of ki as concentration and not as a religious concept and it kinda helps. It doesn't have to be religious at all. It can be for some people, but if you think of it as concentration then it doesn't conflict with any beliefs.

It seems to me that in a lot of martial arts you can think of ki as a spiritual concept, but if you don't like that, it seemed at times that it fits in nicely with very physical concepts. I did tai chi and talking of chi coming from your belly could very easily be thought of as a center of gravity concept at times. So lots of these spiritual concepts can very easily be translated into a physical concept if you think about it.

Meditation does not have to replace your religion. I know people who are both Buddhist AND Christian. The concept of emptying your mind before practice in meditating can simply be a time to focus on practice. Ignore all that everyday stuff like your bills and problems at work and needing to go to the store to buy some milk before going home, etc. It's time to focus on kendo. That's another way to think of meditation. It's not throw out Christianity time. It's let's focus on practice time.

My point is that most concepts in kendo or any martial art for that matter can have religious/spiritual significance to them or they can have none in that way at all. If they are presented to you as spiritual concepts, listen politely, don't try and argue or debate it out, just make them meaningful for you.

[DaQo'tah]

[QOUTE] never!!!

Someone

Please Tell Me

If Subscribing To Kendo

World Magazine is Worth it,

Since it costs a lot, and issues dont

come that often, please answer.

test thats the way to do it,,,test,,,test,,,.

thats way better now...way better.

[DaQo'tah]

good advice,,,thanks guys,,,it had been on my mind for a while.....I feel better about the whole thing now,,,

[Andoru]

Your new age writing style is conflicting with my beliefs as a born again hater of new age writing styles. Please edit and repent before it's too late.
Bahahahaha !

[Kirin]

DaQo'tah,

use search function and search 'christian' there are many good discussion about it. (ie. 'to rei or not to rei' Matusda sensei had really good posts)
You might want to go through some of these threads.

[indigo0086]

When I am meditating, it is usually not to concentrate certain things. My mind is usually blank when I am doing it and it really helps me when my knee caps are bulging out of my fles during seiza. And you need to do some extra meditation for when you get up from seiza, just so you don't fall.

[Sentunim]

japanese people were originally from israel????


i

never

knew that....

they look a little

different.. That freaks me

out! My writing is shaped in a pyramid!

Im just talking about a small group of people there, not the entire population.

[Nanbanjin]

How do Christians meditate in a "helpfull to kendo" manner, yet not go into all the darker "ghee" teachings?

You got a beef with Ghee (http://www.cuzza.com/images/big/ghee.jpg)?

[Nanbanjin]

nanbanjim, Daquota *sry* is very open minded about kendo and is trying to sort something out.. try to havea little respect.


That was my respectful edit.

The only real issue I can see is with "rei" because it could be interpreted as idolatry. Kirin has the best suggestion. Use the search function.

[KhawMengLee]

Inner force is my way of talking about .....(here you will see the reason I came up with inner force),,,,,talking about "Ge?...Key?.Che?..ghee?

something like that anyway....I have been watching a kendo video I got last week from Ebay,,,the whole tape is in Japinase with subtitles,,,but it did seem that the teacher worked his "inner power", or inner force,,,ideas into about every lesson on the tape...

also the tape dealt a lot with the meditation, the right way to sit on your feet,,the right way to hold your hands,,,I dont have a problem with sitting on the floor, nor with holding my hands in any odd ways,,,,But the "empty your mind" stuff seems to not really be something we do in my church,,,,

How do Christians meditate in a "helpfull to kendo" manner, yet not go into all the darker "ghee" teachings?

Darker "Chi" teachings?!? Why do Christian's allways seem to think anything that does not embrace christ is evil?

Meditation is there to calm and relax you. It is also there to clear your mind, meaning when you fight your mind should be clear of distraction. So when you are attacked you react naturally without worrying about posture, striking, what for dinner, etc. You just react like a mirror.

You know, for a christian you are very disrespectful with your words. "empty your minds stuff" "darker ghee" teachings, argueing with Sensei if he tries to teach you Mokuso(meditation).

When you are in the dojo you accept your Sensei's teachings. You don't go in there for a theology debate. Kendo is not religion. Tho' as my Sensei did say "D0jo is Life."(but thats another story). I would certainly not have the arrogance and ill manners to stand up in church during a sermon and argue my views upon the Canon or Priest.

If you are going to be narrow minded and rude I suggest you don't bother with kendo. We don't make presumptions about people and will welcome everyone with open arms to the dojo. You can ask and you can debate but to do so during mokuso is very rude and unheard of.

[jmarsten]

Do not come to Everett or Sno=King,

[DaQo'tah]

I have taken members good advice, and have spent the last hour doing a SEARCH of the word "CHRISTIAN" here,,,,it has been fun reading all of the different points of view.

At this time I would like to say that the poster named " Achilles", had a very good post that answered all of my questions about how I can bring the best parts of kendo into the wider scope of my Christian walk.

The way so many attacks in kendo are based on the "all or nothing" point of view is much like the words of Christ on the Faith we share in.

P.S. I came back here and noted the many different posts, and I have to give a big "Thank you" to many of the posters who have taken the time to defend my correctness in joining this forum so that I can ask questions.

[Nanbanjin]

Beware the dark teachings of ghee (http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Gifs/ghee.jpg)

[Kirin]

Just dont be biased and go visit dojo near you.
See it yourself and hope kendo suit your style :)

[DaQo'tah]

Do not come to Everett or Sno=King,


except to work, I dont think anyone means to go to Everett...

I lived for 15 years in Bellevue, Factoria, Redmond, (cool little town) before I moved to Duvall, (Near Monroe)...

[jmarsten]

except to work, I dont think anyone means to go to Everett...not nice, Everett people have feelings and love of their town

I lived for 15 years in Bellevue, Factoria, Redmond, (cool little town) before I moved to Duvall, (Near Monroe)... Well Duvall is not quite the sticks either \. Your location description would indicate some where near Moses Lake in the dunes.
Don't see anything that indicates a kendo type of person.

[DaQo'tah]

When I lived in Duvall,,,it was the sticks....I could catch fish in my ditch, watch deer walk into town, and pee outside, (The "pee test", thats the sign that you are in the sticks)

My "LOCATION" thingy?..well, Im new so Im still working on that....its going to be in a state of change for a few days,,,,

[DaQo'tah]

Don't see anything that indicates a kendo type of person.


When I first moved into an apt in Bellevue, the family next door was from China. We became good frinds and I took them to my church on Sunday, and they took my wife and I to many of their family doings. But due to the fact that Im white, I always felt a bit out of place.

When we moved to Redmond and joined a new church the very first people we sat next to were from Japan and my wife knows a few words in japan so we got to be good friends. But again the fact that I am such a different race always seemed to bother me when I was the only white guy in all of the downtown area we went to dinner with then at.

perhaps thats why I seem to be drawn to kendo so much,,,because from what i have seen, once a kendo fighter puts on his gear, we all look the same. people from all over the world, all wear the same stuff in the same way,,,we are sorta "brothers in arms" ,,,brothers without borders..

[mystic_kendoka]

i know many people who do zen (the part of buddhism integrated into kendo) and are also christian

christianity= believing there is a christian god who sends messiahs ie jezus every now and then (my knowledge of christianity is not that good)

zen buddhism= believing that if a person is able to empty his mind, and rid himself of the 108 'bad' emotions he will become enlightened (in other words super-smart, understand why and how everything is the way it is)

they dont really clash with each other, and you can easily do kendo without believing in zen, actually zen meditation can take hours, kendo meditation is only for a few seconds to a minute,

the reason we meditate in kendo is not to pray to some god, or to obtain enlightenment, it is just to calm ourselves, and empty our minds of everyday problems, so we can fully concentrate on kendo

the ki or ghee as you said it, is inner force, it is not some spirit inside of you.. it.. is a life force, that everyone has, it is in everything, everything alive has it, in martial arts they tend to use it to concentrate their attacks more, and gain the 'edge' you wouldn't have if you didn't use your ki...

we use ki by kiai, which translate to ki-gathering or focussing, kiai is a slow, sometimes loud exhalation, it is supposed to release ki, but more recent studies show that martial artists are able to obtain the 'edge' by having a good respiratory rhythm regulated by kiai-ing and breathing in when being hit.. also, you are taught to force the air out from your abdomen not your chest or throat, this is to avoid throat pains but more importantly to access the adrenalin gland in the abdomen, if done properly you get a surge of adrenalin which we all know makes you a superman in decent clothes...

i don't see where you have the problem with kendo because of your faith..

[DaQo'tah]

mystic_kendoka


Last night I watched my Kendo video again dealing with the Meditation subject.

then I sat on the floor on top of my feet like is seen in the video. Good Gaud that hurt!

Only was able to sit that way for seconds, then tried to stand and was walking around limping for the rest of the night.

That Normal?

[mystic_kendoka]

yea, try being like that for 20 minutes waiting for your turn in your tournament, get up, feeling every single nerve cell in your ankle, and have to last 3 minutes against a 6 foot giant...

[YAMAFELL]

Well let me ask you this.. do you hurt an ant when you step on it..? (ok, matters how big the ant is, how fast it is squished and everything else.. but just think of your poor little cells in your legs as little ants.. ) Your damn squishing them with your upper body while in seiza. But you get used to it.

The meditating ( I can't spell) is a good way of losing all burdens and troubles and just become empty minded. While relaxing you also just seam to become weightless and empty along with your mind. Then you find out your feet are either bright purple because blood has been stuck in them and not circulating or they are white as a ghost because it has been a long time since blood has been there.. but that is becides the point. Your body will come to accept sitting in this positon after a while. Really. I am telling the truth.

Religion on the other hand is a hard burden to carry around with you as well I think. I don't want to sound rude, or stupid or anything.. ( Becuase i know I hate when that happens... ) But when people think their belives are being infringed upon because others try to teach them about the way they do things, i have to ask why? They are just teaching you something you don't know about.. but they never ask you to BELIEVE in it. That is your own personal choice, and you could just as well lie and say you do to get them off your back and during "mokuso" be thinking about ice cream and the other white meat. When wanting to try something new, learn, and don't worry about learning about things that are different from you and things you don't like. It actually is better to find out about those things to protect your ways from them. (to put it in a blunt but kinda true saying) Get to know your enemy. If you think the chi is so bad, try it, learn about it. Take it's "darker power" away. It is just emptying your mind after all, and learning more about yourself.. oh shit.. are you doing that while learning about it.. now i am confusing myself in all this shallow deepish thought..

well with that said. Don't disrespect something or someone because they try to teach you different. You easily can walk away, or just listen and understand.

And I don't understand how being a minority white person can make you feel bad.. It seams like a big deal, but you said you like kendo because it hides who you are, close your own eyes, and you won't need the bogu to do it for you. Listen more with your heart..... (and .. **gasp** do some kind of meditation.. ahhh no that is way to easy!!!!)

[DaQo'tah]

although I seek to learn the correct ways to do all my Kendo,,,,and althought I wish to show good respect for my teachers and their teachings,,,and although I will do as Im told as best i can...

I cant help but question that foot thingy....Good Gaud, what evil man thought this was a good idea to bring into kendo?

[YAMAFELL]

When you have no chairs.. you sit on your legs.. and half of japan has no chairs.. oh and short legged tables.. don't forget those..

just one night sit around on your legs with a 24pack and watch the fun begin.. (expecially if all the blood is traped in your legs at the time...) ^V^

[nodachi]

Seiza - the way of sitting. :) (sorry, I am being wierd)

Seiza is good for you. It's more formal than lazily sitting on your bum, and you are more ready to respond should someone attack you. On your bum you are pretty much stuck to the floor, but you can readily get up from seiza and attack should someone come after you.

Just start doing it as you watch TV until it hurts, then stop. Try again later. As you do this more and more then your tolerance for it will grow and you can do it longer without your feet and ankles getting all that pain.

[mystic_kendoka]

i think i speak for everyone when i say that i am pretty confident i will be able to attack quicker from a cross-legged stance than in seiza, whenever I get up from seiza i have to spend 10 seconds stretching my ankles.. to make sure nothing suffocated...

seiza is also disciplinary.. once at a seminar we were watching ipponshobu, no time limit it went on until someone scored, then the next challenger would come, after about 20 minutes, everyone was sitting cross-legged, when the sensei there noticed he made us go into seiza for another 10 minutes...

[Masahiro]

Got a question for the starter of this thread,

Who did jeasus follow in terms of he believes and thoughts?

if your answer is God, his Father, then please answer this for me,

then who does God follow?

[mystic_kendoka]

why does anyone have to follow anyone? everyone know bush doesnt follow anyone for ****...

wat makes more sense is, who made the world, god, who made god?

but that is completely off topic, we are not discussing whether there is god or not, we are discussing wether your faith should stop you from doing kendo

[Atama]

Ok here's my two cents worth, I practice kendo with a the reverend of the local anglican church, he is also japanese and from what he's told he comes from along line of japanese christians apparently some of his ancestors were amongst few samurai that turned to christianity instead of budhism. The Rev. Murata has been practicing kendo for many years and could give you a better explanation to why kendo does not interfere with your religion than I....but what the hell I'm gonna try anyway.

Ok lets start with Ki (or chi which ever u prefer) ITS NOT MAGIC , and its not isolated to eastern martial arts I believe you will find Ki used by almost all proffesional athlete but in the west we tend to refer to it as the zone. It is a point were a martial artist, weightlifter, or basketball player become so focused on the goal that they are able to get their bodies to do thing we might think impossible , and in recent nurelogical tests it was found that at points were a person is using Ki or in the zone the brain activity significantley changed.

As for meditation and the clearing of the mind in kendo its is done simply to allow you to disconnect from what you did at work or school and consentrate on your kendo training, which is pretty important being that you are learning to hit people in the head with a stick.

Anyway doing kendo dosen't mean you have to be budhist or that you renounce your religion, everything we do in kendo is out of respect for the origins of the art. If you are having trouble seeing past that then maybe you should take up a different activity that maybe doesn't involve the integration of the eastern culture. :wink:

[mystic_kendoka]

also, for meditation, there was an experiment, they made a person doing kyudo (archery) shoot at a target 5 times whilst measuring his brain activity, he hit 3 out of 5 targets, after 3 minutes meditation, his brain activity was smaller yet he hit 4 out of 5 this time..

mokuso/meditating clears your mind and helps you focus

[Kote-Men]

Hey

Reading back before, you mentioned that you wanted to create a sword, or learn more about one.

In kendo you will not handle a sword, only a wooden stick called a shinai. You will engage in actual combat wearing armor.

If you want to use a real sword, you might want to try iaido.

Iaido is a martial art where you practice prearranged movements, or kata forms using a sword. You will learn how to draw and sheath the sword from its sheath, or saya in japanese. in the beginning you use a wooden sword, but then u move on to iaito, training swords, and then maybe eventually shinken. *a sharp sword, literally 'new' blade*

maybe you should consider this, if you are into using actual swords





MEN!!! KOTE-MEN!!!! KOTE-DO!!!!

[Kirin]

Hey

Reading back before, you mentioned that you wanted to create a sword, or learn more about one.

In kendo you will not handle a sword, only a wooden stick called a shinai. You will engage in actual combat wearing armor.

If you want to use a real sword, you might want to try iaido.

Iaido is a martial art where you practice prearranged movements, or kata forms using a sword. You will learn how to draw and sheath the sword from its sheath, or saya in japanese. in the beginning you use a wooden sword, but then u move on to iaito, training swords, and then maybe eventually shinken. *a sharp sword, literally 'new' blade*

maybe you should consider this, if you are into using actual swords

Oooooooooops
shinken is not literally translate to 'new' blade. 新剣？
more of 'true' blade　＝　真剣　

[DaQo'tah]

Masahiro
...

You ask questions that sound much like mine at one stage in my life....

I would love to share my views on this topic with you,,,but this is not the place for such a conversation. Perhaps we should talk in another forum of such things....

I have always been questioning the ability of a Christian to practice eastern methods of meditation, and from the posts I have been reading here, I believe that I can incorporate the sport of kendo into my more wider Christian life with no problems...

[Kenshin Axel]

who made the world, god, who made god?
Hear Hear!

[kenshin13]

You'll be fine. I'm catholic and I got nothin to worry about. Although I would like to practice some philosophy from Zen Buddhism...well a bit early to think of that now!

[DCPan]

I have always been questioning the ability of a Christian to practice eastern methods of meditation, and from the posts I have been reading here, I believe that I can incorporate the sport of kendo into my more wider Christian life with no problems...

In "Christian" monastic practices, there is a method called centering prayer which is almost identical to zazen, except for the "subject" of the mental focus.

I had an opportunity to learn this...unfortunately, circumstances forced me to move away from the area before I could learn it from the guy.

FWIW.

[Nanbanjin]

Jesus is my kohai!

[KhawMengLee]

Jesus is my kohai!


He built my Hotrod! MINISTRY!!!!!!

[Nanbanjin]

He built my Hotrod! MINISTRY!!!!!!

And my bogu!

[Marine_Boy]

Jesus is my kohai!

"God is a DJ"

(Faithless) :cool:

[Nanbanjin]

"God is a DJ"

(Faithless) :cool:

The dojo's my church (2x)
This is where I feel my hurts
For tonight
God is my Sensei

[Marine_Boy]

The dojo's my church (2x)
This is where I feel my hurts
For tonight
God is my Sensei

(Jumps up and down with glo-sticks in hands)

[KhawMengLee]

"God is a DJ"

(Faithless) :cool:

haha...yup...DJ Seaman thinks so too...check out the cover of Awakenings.haha

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004S2AG/qid=1090226126/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/104-2895911-7962326

[Marine_Boy]

haha...yup...DJ Seaman thinks so too...check out the cover of Awakenings.haha

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004S2AG/qid=1090226126/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/104-2895911-7962326

:cool:

How hot is it in HK?

Been an awful summer here.

Ideguchi san (nito player from wakaba) is leaving for japan.

[KhawMengLee]

:cool:

How hot is it in HK?

Been an awful summer here.

Ideguchi san (nito player from wakaba) is leaving for japan.

Awful? as in rain? well, its hot and sunny here but for the past week its been typhoon season baby! hahha...oh, look! A cow just passed my window...and I live on the 27th floor!"


Yeh, I heard Aki Sensei is going:( damn! nvm, at least his nito lessons are being put to use here...hehehe

[Marine_Boy]

Awful? as in rain? well, its hot and sunny here but for the past week its been typhoon season baby! hahha...oh, look! A cow just passed my window...and I live on the 27th floor!"


Yeh, I heard Aki Sensei is going:( damn! nvm, at least his nito lessons are being put to use here...hehehe

A cow on the 27th floor? How about that little old woman and her cart who sells the deep fried tofu? Did she go past too? :)

Well there's been a lack of heat and sun and a lot of rain.

Mind you, that's good for my hayfever.

It will be Ideguchi san's last practice in around two weeks time. I think I'll ask him if he could fence against me in nito!

[Eiliries]

hi this is DaQo'tah

Im a Christian, so I dont go in for all the "inner force" stuff that so many in Kendo seem to push on students....

Im thinking about starting to take a beginners Kendo class this winter, but from what I have read about some of the ideas behind Kendo, Im not sure how my Christian faith will be able to sit still ....

I have been reading about some of the ways guys from Japan have for prayer or meditation,,,and it seems to go very much against my views as a Born-Again Christian....also if my kendo teacher tries to push that type of teaching on me, I may very well feel the need to "correct" his teachings to the class.

How do Christians work and learn within a system that seems very far from the cross of Christ...

I want to learn kendo,,,,I just dont want to have to listen to any stuff that goes against my Christian faith.....

How is this done? What the hell is wrong with you? Kendo has nothing to do with religion, kendo instructors don't push teachings upon anyone, you are paying for the lesson, and therefore willing learn from them, even if it does involve the "dark force" (which it doesn't).

God forbid anyone should try to challenge your views or look at things from a different perspective!

[Curtis]

....also if my kendo teacher tries to push that type of teaching on me, I may very well feel the need to "correct" his teachings to the class.Excuse you, you are coming to the kendo class, not the reverse. How presumptuous of you to think you have the right to come into the class and "correct" the teacher. How would you like it if someone came to your church and told you how your teachings are wrong? If someone did that at my class I would show them the door immediately.

If you cannot accept kendo for what it is then I suggest you try something else. Do I agree with everything in kendo? No, but I accept kendo for what it is and abide by it.

[abunaidesu]

In kendo everything has a consequence or reaction for doing something. Being closed minded and ignorant in a field that you might join is not a good start. I'll help you out though, when you start kendo tell the dojo "your philiosophies" and "correct the sensei", remenber the word TSKUI. Enjoy the nice feeling of sakigawa.

[orayakab]

hi this is DaQo'tah

Im a Christian, so I dont go in for all the "inner force" stuff that so many in Kendo seem to push on students....

Im thinking about starting to take a beginners Kendo class this winter, but from what I have read about some of the ideas behind Kendo, Im not sure how my Christian faith will be able to sit still ....

I have been reading about some of the ways guys from Japan have for prayer or meditation,,,and it seems to go very much against my views as a Born-Again Christian....also if my kendo teacher tries to push that type of teaching on me, I may very well feel the need to "correct" his teachings to the class.

How do Christians work and learn within a system that seems very far from the cross of Christ...

I want to learn kendo,,,,I just dont want to have to listen to any stuff that goes against my Christian faith.....

How is this done?

You're not ready to do Kendo....

Maybe you should revisit starting Kendo when you are a little more open minded......because you are not even open to learn or discover what Kendo has to teach you...you have already established an opinion based on viewing a video tape before you have even entered a dojo and learn from a Sensei.

I hope he doesn't join a place with a actual kamiza or shinzen..that's going to open up another can of worms...

Orayakab, U.

[Hai_hai]

A more relaxing way to sit in seiza, then tilt to the side on one outstretched arm. Let your legs angle off to the side so your weight isn't on top of the instep and knees. This is also how women sit so you may come off as an unknowing foreigner or homo.

Aside from that, Dakota, I think that your real struggle would be the issue of seiza in a dojo with a kamidan. There is seiza to fellow students and teachers as a form of respect and bowing in and out of the dojo, respecting the dojo. But at the beginning and end of practice, there is a seiza bow 45 degrees to the left. Whether there is a kamidan or not, you are bowing down to it. A kamidan is a god. There it is.

Everyone interprets and applies zazen, or meditation, differently. I think that what you have heard of zazen is from the Zen point of view, which in my opinion would conflict directly with your Christian views. In kendo class, there is meditation time, i.e. zazen. Everyone is sitting in seiza, the lead student yells mokuso. You then close your eyes, put your hands together with a funky ninja gangsta signal and are supposed to meditate. What you meditate on is your own business, seriously. Some people do delve into Zen teachings on meditation and apply it. Others just wait to hear the clap from the sensei, signaling the end of zazen.

Bursting out verbally towards the sensei that his teachings conflict with your faith is not proper. There is a certain respect you should show since you are attending someone else's dojo. It's all voluntary. It's kind of like this, if an Amish girl wanted to join a voluntary swim team but not wear a swimsuit, she's stepping into a conflict.

[Random]

Erm, I'm Chrisitian and I don't find anything wrong with kendo. ^^;; And they don't push you into, em, 'finding your inner power' or something. I think the main part of meditatin, for instance, is focusing. It is all about the discipline. e.x

[Twobitmage]

actually alot of steps have already been taken to make it NOT offensive to non shinto/buddhists

For example, way back when kendoka would bow to the front of the dojo, not simply to pay respects to the owner and place they practice, but to pay respects to a shinto god (not sure which one).

And as said, when you do zazen you arent praying to buddha. You are sitting. Its as simple as that

[Hai_hai]

Im a Christian, so I dont go in for all the "inner force" stuff that so many in Kendo seem to push on students....
That would be ki. Kendo and other eastern martial arts and acupuncturist and eastern religious persons believe that ki exists. Kendo puts a particular emphasis on ki in the phrase ki-ken-tai-ichi. Your interpretation may have been misunderstood by others on this forum. The idea of "Ki" is pushed on students. In all attacks, you do want your ki involved. Maybe "inner force" sounds too mystical or maybe not.

...Im thinking about starting to take a beginners Kendo class this winter, but from what I have read about some of the ideas behind Kendo, Im not sure how my Christian faith will be able to sit still ....
You have read as much here as you can and have received opinions. Go with your gut instinct. Kendo will cost you time and money and if you are anything like me, you will want to spend a good amount of your hard earned money on good-looking bogu.

I have been reading about some of the ways guys from Japan have for prayer or meditation,,,and it seems to go very much against my views as a Born-Again Christian....also if my kendo teacher tries to push that type of teaching on me, I may very well feel the need to "correct" his teachings to the class.
In kendo class, religious ideas are not pushed. I've already wrote about zazen a couple of messages back. You will see some kendoka who are of an Eastern religion and apply that in their kendo practices. Kendo has Zen roots as do other martial arts. So some philosphical ideas presented in practice will have Zen roots or even be blatantly Zen.

How do Christians work and learn within a system that seems very far from the cross of Christ...
Go with your gut instinct. Zen Buddism is an eastern religion. How much you see of it in kendo isn't going to change. If it bothers you now, it will probably bother you later.

I want to learn kendo,,,,I just dont want to have to listen to any stuff that goes against my Christian faith.....How is this done?
There are books on kendo. Read as much as possible. Then, decide whether kendo is for you or not. Riding the exercise bike at the YMCA can get boring and there are various other sports that may be better suited to keep you in shape, be challenging, and not bother your conscience.

You've received some angry replies due to the way you presented your thoughts and you'll probably get the same response in person.

[Hai_hai]

Is kendo covered in the bible?
Yes, it is. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword. However, the sentence has a deeper meaning... in modern times, you can substitute the word sword with gun or whatever other weapon. If you live your live taking things with force via a sword, you are probably going to die by running into someone else who carries a sword and uses it to get what he or she wants.

Kendo is far from leading the gangster or hoodlum lifestyle.

[psywarblade]

Im a Christian, so I dont go in for all the "inner force" stuff that so many in Kendo seem to push on students....

Kei, or energy I think is what you are thinking of when you say "inner force". As someone on here has already said you are confusing Kendo with Star Wars. Kei is the ability to focus you entire attention on the fight and doing whatever move you are attempting at speed and with your whole heart. A Kiai or large shout is meant to harden the abdomen and chest muscles, scare teh shit out of your opponent, and allow you exert full force. It really is more of a midnset then anything.


Im thinking about starting to take a beginners Kendo class this winter, but from what I have read about some of the ideas behind Kendo, Im not sure how my Christian faith will be able to sit still ....

we have talked this through in other threads and I think you are digging two deep. Kendo is a sport like any other. Yes it has deep roots in ancient tradition. But at no time does ti become more then a sport, unless you want it to. If your referencing to the bowing it is not a prayer thing. it is designed to catch your head if the person you are bowing to so chooses.


I have been reading about some of the ways guys from Japan have for prayer or meditation,,,and it seems to go very much against my views as a Born-Again Christian....also if my kendo teacher tries to push that type of teaching on me, I may very well feel the need to "correct" his teachings to the class.

Ironic that you brought this up now. We acctually addressed this issue at class last night. Meditation means different things to different people. We were told to use it as a time to focus on what we are going to work on for that day and what we can do to improve ourselves. I personally ask whomever is watching over me to keep me from injury and try not to kill anyone.


How do Christians work and learn within a system that seems very far from the cross of Christ...
I want to learn kendo,,,,I just dont want to have to listen to any stuff that goes against my Christian faith.....
How is this done?
There are so many christians in kendo that have an unwaivering love for thier god. They do not compromise thier beleifs for anything. And they have had no problem with kendo. I personally think you are just reading to much into it. Whatever you decide good luck to you and if you need someone to talk to about this more thouroughly just give me a holler

[D'Artagnan]

Kendo is for Everybody.

It is too good for no one, and no is too good for it.

[Wout]

hi this is DaQo'tah

Im a Christian, so I dont go in for all the "inner force" stuff that so many in Kendo seem to push on students....



What do you expect??? someone else to win the fights for you? Or don't you trust your own abilities so you are looking for an outer force to do kendo for you. The 'inner force' also refers to the fact that you do kendo to improve yourself, that means you have to take the steps yourself, a sensei can only give you a direction or push you at times, but the most important thing is that you want to improve, their is no bigger force that can do it for you.

If I was truly malicious I could argue that depending on a being outside oneself to solve the prblems is something typicly christian. I have sinned, let Jesus die for absolution. :)

[DCPan]

How do Christians work and learn within a system that seems very far from the cross of Christ...


I'm a Christian.

Rather than lumping Christanity as a whole, why not ask yourself what is it about "YOUR" interpretation of Christianity that makes it incompatible? More importantly, what is it about your "misunderstanding" of what kendo is about that makes it so incompatible?

Having conservative vs. liberal interpretations of the Bible will change how you view things. That's a whole other can of worms more suited for discussion elsewhere.

When you can read the Bible in multiple languages, it makes you take it less literally. I'm obviously not a fundamentalist.

FWIW...

[itachi]

I say, do not pay attention to the video ....... and meditating is not "empty your mind", its like calm down and concentrate, and don't think about anything else because this 2 hours will be about kendo.

[DaQo'tah]

Hai hai...

Good post, I read it many times over.

so far I dont expect much trouble from the study of kendo. I do expect my kendo teachers to teach my mind and body how to do this sport, and thats the end of it.
If I catch a teacher going off the deep end with some "spirit" stuff, I will correct that and explane that "The DaQo'tah is already saved and Born-Again, and so I dont need any help in that area.

as far as bowing to the Buddest alters that are in some Kendo scvhools...I dont have a real problem with that...I believe its just a tradition and that as I believe the buddest faith is meaningless, the alter is just as meaningless to me....so there is really no problem bowing to ..."whatever"


Thanks for the good advice!

[Sentunim]

It's not like it's meaningless. You should respect their culture at least. I bow out of respect, though I'm not buddhist myself.

[amatsuda]

as far as bowing to the Buddest alters that are in some Kendo scvhools...I dont have a real problem with that...I believe its just a tradition and that as I believe the buddest faith is meaningless, the alter is just as meaningless to me....so there is really no problem bowing to ..."whatever"

Geez...this guy is just on a roll isn't he?

What perplexes me is that his concerns are the complete opposite of some of the Christian arguments I have heard....

He has an issue with an intangible, complex and nebulous concept of "Ki" which would not even apply at the Complete Beginner stage or of spirituality but then has no problem bowing to an altar even though the contrary of bowing to idols is written in Exodus....

Exodus 20:3 – Thou shall not have [worship] other Gods before me, Exodus 20:4 - Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth, and Exoduct 20:5 - Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me.

I hope that you reconsider your position if you ever come to NCKF or San Jose and practice at a "meaningless" dojo like the Dojo at SJ Nichiren.

amatsuda

[Neil Gendzwill]

as far as bowing to the Buddest alters that are in some Kendo scvhools...I dont have a real problem with that...I believe its just a tradition and that as I believe the buddest faith is meaningless, the alter is just as meaningless to me....so there is really no problem bowing to ..."whatever"

And here expressed in a few sentences is the problem I have with born-again Christians - "we have the one true faith, the rest of you are going to hell". Asshat.

[Nanbanjin]

And here expressed in a few sentences is the problem I have with born-again Christians - "we have the one true faith, the rest of you are going to hell". Asshat.
Do they play kendo in hell? If it gets me away people like this DaQo'tah wanker my bogu's packed.

[Hai_hai]

Hai hai...

Good post, I read it many times over....
Dakota,
There's a Japanese phrase that one says when you first meet someone. It's Doozo yoroshiku. The translation is "please be kind to me". People are constantly showing polite behaviour on the outside with the constant bowing... even when they don't respect the other person.
If you do decide to study kendo and take classes, direct confrontation will distance you further, regardless of what you say. Therefore, creating a relationship wall. One example is the way you are expressing your thoughts. You have the freedom of speech and religion to express what you want to say here. However, you are stepping on people's toes.
There's the saying in the Bible (paraphrased here), where if you and your faith are not excepted, dust off your shoes and continue on your way. Kendo classes may be a community of sorts that you may not want to enter.

[DaQo'tah]

Hai Hai..

another good posting!


I can only answer for myself and my view that kendo and Kumdo are something I would like to explore on a deeper level, than just downloading a few short video clips.

I believe that Kendo has many good things going for it and I believe that this comming year should give me many good memories.

[webjunkie401]

DaQo'tah,

I think that you should really take Hai Hai's advice seriously. The being polite and respectful bit. Just from the reactions some of your statements have gotten in this thread, it should be evident that by disrespecting another's beliefs, even if unintentionally, you can step on their toes quite easily.

I am a christian as well, so I can understand your perspective. But remember, even if something is meaningless to you, it still has immense meaning to someone else, and to disregard that is to pay them a grave disservice. Even if something is meaningless, you should realize that it has meaning for someone, just as your beliefs have meaning to you, and you should respect that.

[DaQo'tah]

amatsuda
......

Fundamental to the Christian Faith is the understanding that the Old Testament is read only in the completed "LIGHT" of the New Testament,,,,and not the other way around.

One can not place New Wine in old wine skins...for the new wine bursts the skins that can not expand.

In this way the Christian is able to view the different false gods of other's traditions as meaningless in the Grand scheme of things. If there are some altars that some pray to that are to be found in a home Im visiting, or in a professional complex, then while Im a guest I give the respect that is due as a guest,,and this falls completely in line with 1st Corinthians 10:27...

If I know an altar is meaningless due to the fact that the worship of it is rejected by my Lord jesus, then its meaningless to me as well...

Thats why I wrote that I have no trouble bowing to "Whatever" because I know it is a Meaningless artifact of a tradition...It has no bearing on reality nor my Christian Faith...

However also in line with 1 CO 10:28 I should also make sure that everyone knows that the artifact is meaningless to me, so that no one is ever confused to think Im worshiping a false God. ...(As you can see, I state me beliefs quite openly so no one is ever confused about what I think...LOL)

To the Christians that have a problem with my High Tolerance of what I know to be False systems of beliefe, I can only say that The Apostle Paul writes that he was able to thank God for meat sacrificed to False idols, for he knew that the idol is nothing ...My idea is that I can disregard what others who are into Zen and Buddism think about some artifacts found in their Kendo halls, for I can change it to represent something else.

This falls in line with 1 Co 10: 31 where we all are instructed in that whatever we do, to do it all for the Glory of the One True God...

[Kaoru]

Please watch your language. There are kids on this forum. As it is, I will ask a moderator to either delete this post or alter your foul words, whichever he sees fit. I normally won't report a post, but you went overboard. You can have an opinion, but you need to keep it clean. IE: Not only not foul mouthed but not trashy as well. Some of these things you said are revolting.

Kaoru

[Kirin]

DaQo'tah,

wow... you are the first person who got banned from seatle and san jose dojo, before you even start kendo.


If you ever go these dojo, dont tell them you are from Dakota... tell them you are from east or north-east :wink:

[Nanbanjin]

Please watch your language. There are kids on this forum. As it is, I will ask a moderator to either delete this post or alter your foul words, whichever he sees fit. I normally won't report a post, but you went overboard. You can have an opinion, but you need to keep it clean. IE: Not only not foul mouthed but not trashy as well. Some of these things you said are revolting.

Kaoru

Yeah... but when you look past the obscenities he does have a few good points. Certainly different to the posts we normally get here. I wonder if he's a kendo player.

[Random m0f0]

Please watch your language. There are kids on this forum. As it is, I will ask a moderator to either delete this post or alter your foul words, whichever he sees fit. I normally won't report a post, but you went overboard. You can have an opinion, but you need to keep it clean. IE: Not only not foul mouthed but not trashy as well. Some of these things you said are revolting.

Kaoru
Oh dear. I think I just shat myself.

[Marine_Boy]

I have wanted to something on this thread before but refrained from doing so, as I did not want to offend.

This was because at first I thought Daqotah was baiting everyone with this "I am a born again christian".

But then I read that he was trying to change his views.

Now he's preaching to us about his religion.

I say stop feeding this troll and close the thread.

Over on ebudo, there has been in excess of 20 or so pages generated on budo and religion.

I feel that only one person I know can drag this theological debate on.

I think I'll invite him over for his input and have a "talk" with daqotah.

[Kaoru]

Yeah... but when you look past the obscenities he does have a few good points. Certainly different to the posts we normally get here. I wonder if he's a kendo player.
Yes, but the way he presents them is childish and offensive. I could have commented on some of his points, but he is so rude and classless, that I decided not to bother. Check his other posts. He doesn't have anything civil to say. I don't think he knows what being kind to others even means. Yes, Dakota is um... what Hotei-san said and what Meng-san said. But, there is no need to be downright mean. Having an opinion is one thing. Being nasty, rude and mean is another thing entirely. Hate is a bad thing. He is consumed by it.

Kaoru

[misterkurukuru]

is this thread about christ doing kendo...cos if he did do kendo, it would not be kool. no one could touch him because his dad is the big guy in the sky. This is taking ,"my dad can beat up your dad" to a whole new level! I wish we got to eat body of christ ( i personaly like his toe nails) for bento, and i would be down to have a few kegs of his blood too! I know all about christ so ask away...i watched dogma 3 times :wink:

Every swing he makes is a miracle shot…dude that is sooooo not fair

[Kaoru]

I have wanted to something on this thread before but refrained from doing so, as I did not want to offend.

This was because at first I thought Daqotah was baiting everyone with this "I am a born again christian".

But then I read that he was trying to change his views.

Now he's preaching to us about his religion.

I say stop feeding this troll and close the thread.

Over on ebudo, there has been in excess of 20 or so pages generated on budo and religion.

I feel that only one person I know can drag this theological debate on.

I think I'll invite him over for his input and have a "talk" with daqotah.
That is the BEST idea I have ever heard so far! Yeah.. Let Tony(Where IS he??), Harvey and oh gosh...who is the other? BruceB? Elder999 too... have at him. :D Then, he can leave us all in peace... :)

I agree with closing this thread

Kaoru

[Marine_Boy]

That is the BEST idea I have ever heard so far! Yeah.. Let Tony(Where IS he??), Harvey and oh gosh...who is the other? BruceB? Elder999 too... have at him. :D Then, he can leave us all in peace... :)

I agree with closing this thread

Kaoru

It's ok kaoru, just put the word out to Tony.

We shall have to wait and see...

I shalln't call over the rest of the guys as I don't think it'll be right thing to do, having ebudoka swamp kendoworld.

BruceB? I know where he's been hiding out (over at aikiforum) and I don't think kendoworld is ready for his "postings" yet.

[KhawMengLee]

It's ok kaoru, just put the word out to Tony.

We shall have to wait and see...

I shalln't call over the rest of the guys as I don't think it'll be right thing to do, having ebudoka swamp kendoworld.

BruceB? I know where he's been hiding out (over at aikiforum) and I don't think kendoworld is ready for his "postings" yet.


Nooooooooooooooooooooo...BruceB is the devil!

[Nanbanjin]

is this thread about christ doing kendo...cos if he did do kendo, it would not be kool. no one could touch him because his dad is the big guy in the sky. This is taking ,"my dad can beat up your dad" to a whole new level!

But his dad let him get crucified. If that's anything to go by Christ would have to do kakarigeiko for forty days and forty nights or something similarly biblical.

[Marine_Boy]

Nooooooooooooooooooooo...BruceB is the devil!

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[KhawMengLee]

But his dad let him get crucified. If that's anything to go by Christ would have to do kakarigeiko for forty days and forty nights or something similarly biblical.


ooo....does that mean (in reference to the Spear of Longines) Eiga Sensei will tsuki him in the ribs?

Wooooo...the shinai of Eiganes!

[Nanbanjin]

ooo....does that mean (in reference to the Spear of Longines) Eiga Sensei will tsuki him in the ribs?

Wooooo...the shinai of Eiganes!

Nice.
But is the men-towel of turin a fake?

[DaQo'tah]

Marine_Boy
...From what I know of both the Christian walk, and the art of Kendo, I have learned to always have a firm yet calm respect to others who disagree with me and never allow myself to become upset at being attacked.

Greater men than I in the history of my faith have had worse things spoken to them, so why would I expect to be treated any better?.......I dont.

I started this topic due to some things I have always had a questions about, as well as some things a noted kendo teacher had to say on a teaching video I just got last week on Ebay.

From what I have learned from this forum: that there is really no need to worry about the teachings of Kendo on my Christian faith, that the "Inner power/force" that the Kendo Video spoke of is not really all that I thought it was, and that any things that might come up like the "Bowing topic" can be easly translated into something to the Christian that is very helpfull in the sport of Kendo.

[KhawMengLee]

Nice.
But is the men-towel of turin a fake?

yes...along with the Splinters of the True Dou(Cross) selling for $9.99 at the Vatican Kendo Gift Shop.

[KhawMengLee]

Marine_Boy
...From what I know of both the Christian walk, and the art of Kendo, I have learned to always have a firm yet calm respect to others who disagree with me and never allow myself to become upset at being attacked.

Of the art of Kendo? Well...obviously not much...please don't try to act like you are a sensei.

As for calm respect...hahaha...yes, remind me how calling other people's culture and religion meaningless translates into "calm respect".

Listen El Koreshi Hitler, take your potty mouth and go expunge your calm respect in the nearest sewer or Branch Davidian meeting,eh.

[DaQo'tah]

KML
"Potty"?

Please refer to my post about how the world treated greater men of my faith than I...

I have never said (even one time) that I was a teacher of things in the Kendo world....what I have learned comes mostly from you and the others who take the time to post to me.....Your posts are what I any others reading this topic see of the face of Kendo...

Your posts are all I know of the affects the teachings of your sensei have had on your own heart.

[Marine_Boy]

Marine_Boy
...From what I know of both the Christian walk, and the art of Kendo, I have learned to always have a firm yet calm respect to others who disagree with me and never allow myself to become upset at being attacked.

Greater men than I in the history of my faith have had worse things spoken to them, so why would I expect to be treated any better?.......I dont.

I started this topic due to some things I have always had a questions about, as well as some things a noted kendo teacher had to say on a teaching video I just got last week on Ebay.

From what I have learned from this forum: that there is really no need to worry about the teachings of Kendo on my Christian faith, that the "Inner power/force" that the Kendo Video spoke of is not really all that I thought it was, and that any things that might come up like the "Bowing topic" can be easly translated into something to the Christian that is very helpfull in the sport of Kendo.

I don't want to get into an argument with you. In fact I don't have any problems with you being a christian and are thinking of taking up kendo.

I didn't even mind you questioning what kendo is, but what got me is how this thread has slowly sour without many people noticing.

When most people have questions for a topic or subject that they do not know much about, they are usually very accepting of the ideas. However, I find that you seem to have already formed your own opinions of kendo and are fighting back against the comments and advice given to you, so that it answers your initial questions.

I am not trying attack you. I simply put down my reasons for the closure of this thread, as I have seen on other budo forums how out of hand topics like this can get.

However, I feel that I do not have the knowledge and experience to hold a decent discussion with yourself on this subject, I therefore invited someone who I believe is a better person to do so.

[KhawMengLee]

KML
"Potty"?

Please refer to my post about how the world treated greater men of my faith than I...

I have never said (even one time) that I was a teacher of things in the Kendo world....what I have learned comes mostly from you and the others who take the time to post to me.....Your posts are what I any others reading this topic see of the face of Kendo...

Your posts are all I know of the affects the teachings of your sensei on your own heart.

The face of Kendo? Dude...I think you are one of those airheads who think that Japan is all Hello Kitty and that Samurai walk the street. Japan just like anywhere else in the world...Just because you do kendo does not make you a saint.

Life is Dojo

In a dojo there are good people, bad people, stubborn, understanding, young, old, wise, brash, etc...the dojo is a reflection of the bigger world that surrounds it.

Do not think that you can come in here and badmouth our art, culture and religion and we'll take it smiling and bowing away. Some people might tolerate it, I won't.

Don't try to change your outlook now as the poor persecuted noble man on this forum. You are an ignorant lout, who think exactly like the intolerant fanatics in Al Quida and you earlier posts only inforce that image. As you can see no one likes you because you are a nob. Reflect on that, inprove yourself and maybe you'll get a life.

************************************************** *******

As for my heart, well, I sleep peacefully.

And as for my posts...do you see anyone complaining?

Now every post you have placed has been met with negativity.

As they say, if you walk into a bar and everyone in there hates you...maybe something is wrong with the Bar. If you walk into 20 bars and everyone there hates you...maybe there's something wrong with YOU.

[KhawMengLee]

I don't want to get into an argument with you. In fact I don't have any problems with you being a christian and are thinking of taking up kendo.

I didn't even mind you questioning what kendo is, but what got me is how this thread has slowly sour without many people noticing.

When most people have questions for a topic or subject that they do not know much about, they are usually very accepting of the ideas. However, I find that you seem to have already formed your own opinions of kendo and are fighting back against the comments and advice given to you, so that it answers your initial questions.

I am not trying attack you. I simply put down my reasons for the closure of this thread, as I have seen on other budo forums how out of hand topics like this can get.

However, I feel that I do not have the knowledge and experience to hold a decent discussion with yourself on this subject, I therefore invited someone who I believe is a better person to do so.

And here is an example of a more tolerant person :) and we are from the same dojo. Seriously Bro, you are too nice...btw, is that smelly idiot with the nunchucks still in our dojo?

Invited someone?!? OMG, not BruceB!!!!!

[Marine_Boy]

And here is an example of a more tolerant person :) and we are from the same dojo. Seriously Bro, you are too nice...btw, is that smelly idiot with the nunchucks still in our dojo?

Invited someone?!? OMG, not BruceB!!!!!


Awh jeeze, you're too kind.

That smelly idiot with the nunchucks has been gone for quite a while.

You know what, he once asked me how many swords I owe then told me that he had a large collection of samurai swords at home which he "uses".

That guy started around the time I got into bogu and that must have been at least a year ago. But he was a strange kind of fellow. He'd watch you do kata but he'd be standing right next to you.

The last time I saw him was when he was practicing kirikaishi when a raw beginner and "teaching" him how it should be done...

[KhawMengLee]

Awh jeeze, you're too kind.

That smelly idiot with the nunchucks has been gone for quite a while.

You know what, he once asked me how many swords I owe then told me that he had a large collection of samurai swords at home which he "uses".

That guy started around the time I got into bogu and that must have been at least a year ago. But he was a strange kind of fellow. He'd watch you do kata but he'd be standing right next to you.

The last time I saw him was when he was practicing kirikaishi when a raw beginner and "teaching" him how it should be done...

yeeeeesss...I know...A bunch of us had to teach him at some point as well and after a while you just wanted to crack him on the head and say "Concentrate!" He'd be looking off at the advance class with the "oh, I don't need to learn this. I bet I could take on those guys look" on his face.

Yeh, the standing next to you thing. He creeps everyone out like that...Aki Sensei was giving me some Nito advice in the middle of our jigeiko session and he walked up and stood next to us to listen...he even went so far as to stop Aki in mid sentence to ask where he could buy a shoto...we just stood and stared at him for a few seconds before Aki asked him to move away as he might get "accidentally" hit when we start fighting again.

Actually, soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many people wanted him in Bogu...

[Marine_Boy]

yeeeeesss...I know...A bunch of us had to teach him at some point as well and after a while you just wanted to crack him on the head and say "Concentrate!" He'd be looking off at the advance class with the "oh, I don't need to learn this. I bet I could take on those guys look" on his face.

Yeh, the standing next to you thing. He creeps everyone out like that...Aki Sensei was giving me some Nito advice in the middle of our jigeiko session and he walked up and stood next to us to listen...he even went so far as to stop Aki in mid sentence to ask where he could buy a shoto...we just stood and stared at him for a few seconds before Aki asked him to move away as he might get "accidentally" hit when we start fighting again.

Actually, soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many people wanted him in Bogu...

He did that to you too!

I just hope we haven't accidentally armed a nutter with sword / shinai skills...

[Hai_hai]

..Yeh, the standing next to you thing. He creeps everyone out like that...Aki Sensei was giving me some Nito advice in the middle of our jigeiko session and he walked up and stood next to us to listen...he even went so far as to stop Aki in mid sentence to ask where he could buy a shoto...we just stood and stared at him for a few seconds before Aki asked him to move away as he might get "accidentally" hit when we start fighting again...
That was the best "samurai-wanna-be" story I have ever heard.

[Hai_hai]

Dakota,
Some statements are better accepted from those whom you have established a personal friendship with because the other person knows that you have a genuine interest in their life. Similar statements made to strangers come off as judgmental.
If you are interested in a sword-type martial arts without any religious slant, try fencing.

[nodachi]

Random thoughts for this thread...

Being respectful in words to others while thinking in your head that their beliefs are meaningless or false... how is this respectfull? Sounding respectful and being respectful are two different things.

Part of our purpose in doing kendo is "To associate with others with sincerity"

Hard to do when the mouth says one thing and the mind thinks another.

Also, how do you know others' beliefs are false? You have faith that your belief system is good, but having faith means believing in something that there is not necessarily proof for. We could all be wrong and the wacky guy on the street corner with the sign saying God posing as aliens are coming to harvest us to the heavenly purple planet could be right. Sounds far fetched, but we still need to acknowledge that our faith does not mean certainty so I shouldn't throw away his thoughts as trash because maybe he is right.

:puzzled:

[indigo0086]

well, not beleiving in other's beleifs and thinking one's beleifs are meaningless are two different things. You don't have to accept everyone, but shoudl respect them.

[npk9]

KML
"Potty"?

Your posts are all I know of the affects the teachings of your sensei have had on your own heart.
Yes thats true and if one of similiar attitude would come to my sensei's dojo (which few have). My sensei would respond by saying - "THERE IS NOTHING FOR ME TO TEACH YOU! You think you know kendo! I know - you think you know what kendo is all about. There is nothing that you can learn from me. I'm not being mean but please leave." (yes this has happened - I've seen it). Being sincere to yourself is important but at times it doesn't hurt to have a little ettiquite. It's not the information that we present that makes people angry but how we present it. I think we need to work on our presentation skills.

[DaQo'tah]

Hai,,,Hai...

I invite you to drop back in this topic of mine and re-read my posts. You will notice that for the first 4 pages the people that were posting on this topic were just sending normal posts to me about stuff...

But then notice what happens of page 5!.....There on page five of this topic a new bunch of posters show up and begin to use the "F" word,,,,a lot....

Yes, starting at page five the "F-Word is popping up all the time...

I believe this was meant to shock me,,,but as Im an adult I can overlook such foolishness,,,however I do question what reason a person would want for one of his own posts to be filled with such things?....I know that when I post I try to always remember that the Post is going to be seen by many people,,by children,,,by moms and dads,,,,and so I try to always post in a style that can be read to children so that the good Lord never has to step in and correct my mis-use of my free speach .

Hai Hai, if you back up in this topic and have a read, I would be interested in your views of what some post like,,,,and the way I post too,,,for I have re-read my posts to this time and I find NOTHING that needs to be explaned nor changed,,,I have stated my views, asked important questions, thanked people for their advice,,,all this while doing a darn good job at reflecting my Lord to posters who clearly are at odds with my Lord.

[DaQo'tah]

nodachi
...
You have asked about my views on showing respect to people I know are in the wrong...

From time to time we all will run into people that we have to deal with that are just a lot of work.

At such times, the way to get past this situation is to think back to the Word...and to remember the "Golden Rule"....and this helps us know how to deal with others who do and say evil things...

Do onto others as you would have them do onto you...

Know I can see clearly that the "Golden Rule" is not much in effect around this forum sometimes, But I still am convinced that it is the best way for me to live my life. When I run into people of a different faith, or as here people that are just very rude to me and my faith and my country,,,my answer to them is meant to reflect how I wish to be treated by them...My answer is to remain calm and respectfull,,,

I dont answer spit for spit.

I look for posters that are not so swept up in being bullies and to make sure that I seek their counsel and views,,,for that is how I would be treated by them too...

The angery, personal attacks?...I just over look them and dont read their posts, so thus they are made moot.

I cant control what others post, be it for good or ill,,But I can control my answers to them.

[Atama]

nodachi
...
You have asked about my views on showing respect to people I know are in the wrong...

From time to time we all will run into people that we have to deal with that are just a lot of work.

At such times, the way to get past this situation is to think back to the Word...and to remember the "Golden Rule"....and this helps us know how to deal with others who do and say evil things...

Do onto others as you would have them do onto you...

Know I can see clearly that the "Golden Rule" is not much in effect around this forum sometimes, But I still am convinced that it is the best way for me to live my life. When I run into people of a different faith, or as here people that are just very rude to me and my faith and my country,,,my answer to them is meant to reflect how I wish to be treated by them...My answer is to remain calm and respectfull,,,

I dont answer spit for spit.

I look for posters that are not so swept up in being bullies and to make sure that I seek their counsel and views,,,for that is how I would be treated by them too...

The angery, personal attacks?...I just over look them and dont read their posts, so thus they are made moot.

I cant control what others post, be it for good or ill,,But I can control my answers to them.


I find you quite amusing, you talk a good game sunshine but I feel your a bit of a hypocrite as I just read one of your posts on another thread in which you cleary insulted the french and you where quite rude. Maybe you need to learn tolerence I believe it speaks extensively on this subject in the bible.

I have also noticed that you don't post alot of stuff about kendo is this because you know nothing about it or that you are simply are not intrested in speaking about kendo (on this a kendo forum) just curious?

[DaQo'tah]

Atama
....Im glad you enjoy the way I play the game...umm ...er...Kumquat, but I stand fully behind every comment and post I have made on this forum. As far as my posts dealing with the french, I have been very clear that I do not believe that the french have acted correctly at all. I find the French ability to come crawling on hands and knees begging for our help when it's their butts in trouble , and then yet sit by impassively when countries like Sudan are in desperate trouble...well....I just find the French to be wrong on every call they make,,,wrong on Iraq, Wrong on Iran,,,I think the mighty French army could't help us in the future one little bit.

I believe that if North Korea attacks the South, (something I think is very close to being true) that France will likely be selling tech and gear to the North. And that if needed to help in the fight, that France could not get a ship out of it's home port ,,,and even if they (the French navy) got to aisa, the first landing ship would get lost and end up tied up outside a Hong Kong Whorehouse....

(My dad has many other stories about dealing with the French during and right after the War if you wish, I could post many)

France is a "topic", as such it's a target to my jokes and attacks,,,,thats the job of a "topic"

However you should notice that I never attack a "poster", on this forum. This is because a "Poster" has every right to their views , I never use bad words, I never tell them to :"Shut your mouth"...I might disagree with them, they may be very wrong and stand against all that I stand for, but part of what I stand for is to always show respect for people that I am talking to,,,I dont make "Posters" into the "topic".

As in Kendo, I might try my best to defeat you. But I shall never show you dishonor nor attempt to use things that show baddly on my teachers. I will try my best to beat you, because Im here to win, if I were not, then beating me is without any merit.


As for your question about what I do and don't post about,,,I believe that if you drop back to the very first postings of mine on this topic (that I started), you will have your answers....

[Eiliries]

Atama
....Im glad you enjoy the way I play the game...umm ...er...Kumquat, but I stand fully behind every comment and post I have made on this forum. As far as my posts dealing with the french, I have been very clear that I do not believe that the french have acted correctly at all. I find the French ability to come crawling on hands and knees begging for our help when it's their butts in trouble , and then yet sit by impassively when countries like Sudan are in desperate trouble...well....I just find the French to be wrong on every call they make,,,wrong on Iraq, Wrong on Iran,,,I think the mighty French army could't help us in the future one little bit.

I believe that if North Korea attacks the South, (something I think is very close to being true) that France will likely be selling tech and gear to the North. And that if needed to help in the fight, that France could not get a ship out of it's home port ,,,and even if they (the French navy) got to aisa, the first landing ship would get lost and end up tied up outside a Hong Kong Whorehouse....

(My dad has many other stories about dealing with the French during and right after the War if you wish, I could post many)

France is a "topic", as such it's a target to my jokes and attacks,,,,thats the job of a "topic"

However you should notice that I never attack a "poster", on this forum. This is because a "Poster" has every right to their views , I never use bad words, I never tell them to :"Shut your mouth"...I might disagree with them, they may be very wrong and stand against all that I stand for, but part of what I stand for is to always show respect for people that I am talking to,,,I dont make "Posters" into the "topic".

As in Kendo, I might try my best to defeat you. But I shall never show you dishonor nor attempt to use things that show baddly on my teachers. I will try my best to beat you, because Im here to win, if I were not, then beating me is without any merit.


As for your question about what I do and don't post about,,,I believe that if you drop back to the very first postings of mine on this topic (that I started), you will have your answers....
You sir, are a buffoon, I hope no kendo (or kumdo) dojo ever makes the mistake of allowing you to join them. Even if you were somehow able to weasel your way into a dojo, your narrow-mindedness would have you expelled in no time!

[DaQo'tah]

Eiliries
.......Luke 6:28

[Eiliries]

Eiliries
.......Luke 6:28
What perchance is that supposed to mean? It would be easier if you just posted what you wanted to say, instead of referring to obscure passages of the bible.

[DaQo'tah]

so you think now that my posts are too short?....thats very odd, for I was also just told to "shut my mouth"....yes, very all very odd, ,,,

[kendokamax]

DaQo'tah do you know what kote is?

[Hai_hai]

...Hai Hai, if you back up in this topic and have a read, I would be interested in your views of what some post like,,,,and the way I post too,,,for I have re-read my posts to this time and I find NOTHING that needs to be explaned nor changed,,,I have stated my views, asked important questions, thanked people for their advice,,,all this while doing a darn good job at reflecting my Lord to posters who clearly are at odds with my Lord.
Dakota,
Very well, since there is no private messaging, allow me to be more direct. Your reply to amatsuda would be "appropriate" as said to someone who is a person of the same faith. You bring up reference to Bible statements that back up your thoughts. No problem unless you are talking to someone who is not of the same faith. You aren't "preaching to the choir", so it comes off as "I am on my high horse" or "the dude with the 'The end of the world is near' sign".

[Eiliries]

so you think now that my posts are too short?....thats very odd, for I was also just told to "shut my mouth"....yes, very all very odd, ,,,
Listen, if I wanted to tell you that your posts are too short, I would have done so. Also, I have never asked you to "shut your mouth" although, now you mention it, that's a good idea.

[AlexM]

Get thine biblical opinions over to e-budo.com: They'll love you there.

Wow, a religious zealot does not like France... I'm shedding a tear.... nope, false alarm. Your exactly the kind of person I really want "liking" France. :D Your disaproval of France is like a ringing endorsement to my ears... if I actually cared what you "think".

I feel sorry for Americans that have to put up with your kind: you guys give the US a bad name. An overly loud minority with both an inferiority and persecution complex: so common among the overly pious.

The "location" you posted in your profile is far too long and constantly screws up the screen length... fortunately I don't really care much for your posts or threads so I don't encounter this problem too much. But just to be sure I'll still stick you in my ignore file... and so ends my foray into feeding a troll: I feel so dirty and unsatisfied.

Doesn't anyone post on the topic of kendo anymore? Or better yet... actually practice kendo?

(French sailors visiting brothels!!! Shocking! It's shocking that they prefer women over men: They should follow the example of the British and American navies. Hot guy on guy action! Sexy.)

Note ot the mods: Could this thread be moved to the flames section? Just a suggestion. (my apologies in advance for bringing down the level of discourse on the site: I will do 50 suburi with a suburito as pennance :))

[Marine_Boy]

As I have already mentioned, I have nothing against people and their religion.

They can do what they want.

But daqotah. Please stop with your bible bashing on this forum and stop forcing your "Lord" down our throats. There are other christian kendoka here and they don't run around chastising themselves at every opportunity!

Eiliries
.......Luke 6:28

I believe this was meant to shock me,,,but as Im an adult I can overlook such foolishness,,,however I do question what reason a person would want for one of his own posts to be filled with such things?....I know that when I post I try to always remember that the Post is going to be seen by many people,,by children,,,by moms and dads,,,,and so I try to always post in a style that can be read to children so that the good Lord never has to step in and correct my mis-use of my free speach .

Hai Hai, if you back up in this topic and have a read, I would be interested in your views of what some post like,,,,and the way I post too,,,for I have re-read my posts to this time and I find NOTHING that needs to be explaned nor changed,,,I have stated my views, asked important questions, thanked people for their advice,,,all this while doing a darn good job at reflecting my Lord to posters who clearly are at odds with my Lord.

Finally, may I ask what you know of kendo and its philosophy? I can say for my self that I don't know much apart from what I feel is morally correct. So my question to you again is, if you haven't even stepped foot in a kendo dojo how do you keep quoting that you know kendo???

As in Kendo, I might try my best to defeat you. But I shall never show you dishonor nor attempt to use things that show baddly on my teachers. I will try my best to beat you, because Im here to win, if I were not, then beating me is without any merit.

[DaQo'tah]

kendokamax


"One of the greatest strides in developing protective armor for the practice session was Chuta's invention of the kote or fencing glove." (THIS IS KENDO, page 52)

[KhawMengLee]

kendokamax


"One of the greatest strides in developing protective armor for the practice session was Chuta's invention of the kote or fencing glove." (THIS IS KENDO, page 52)

kote:

1) Protective gauntlet made of leather, cloth and deer/horse hair. Used to protect the forearm from strikes.

2) One of the 5 valid targets in kendo for fighting in Itto.

3) Protective armor covering the whole arm. Part of a Yoroi(japanese armored suit) the kote was made of tough silk or cloth material sewn with leather and steel to protect a samurais' arms in battle.

************************************************** **

According to your qoute then, why was the development of Chuta's kote so important?

[DaQo'tah]

Hai hai...

Interesting, for I actually thought that his comments about the Old test were showing that he was the most into the questions I was dealing with...

If you remember the context:,,we were dealing with the bowing to "things" in the Dojo that , to some people, have a Faith or Spirit connection to their faith.

My answer is that I have no problem bowing to such "things" due to the fact that as the said 'thing" is not in my faith, as it has nothing to do with my faith, and is of no meaning to me. Then bowing becomes just a way to show "respect" to the "tradition" of the Dojo. Im not offended at all to be asked to bow to such 'things....or "whatever" else there is in this or that Dojo. Its a meaningless thing to me, and Im not concerned at all that such things are worth fighting over.

BUT,,,,(and here is where amat's post come up), But there are some Christians that I have run into that are crazy about not even looking at things found in other faiths. They are always getting on me for being too Liberal in my "Live and let live" attitudes.

Thus we now get to the post sent to me to confront me on this way i believe. here is that post - "

("Exodus 20:3 ? Thou shall not have [worship] other Gods before me, Exodus 20:4 - Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth, and Exoduct 20:5 - Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me.")

Now Hai Hai, in my answer I give my point of view, and it's a point of view that should be well known to all Bible believeing Christians. That being that the New Testament is better than the Old Testament. For in the New Testament we are given the "light" that we need to be able to read the Old, and never the other way around.

This is the answer I still stand behind....

perhaps it is not an answer that some Christians or people of other faiths are familiar with, and this is regretable.

But it is the best and only correct answer for all the rest lack the ability to maintain the difference between a Born again believer under GRACE, and they who were born and held under the LAW.

[DaQo'tah]

M Boy...

If you truly are one who does not have a problem with people and their religion, then we will get along fine, for I am a person and I have religion.

and I live on-line with Romans 14:16 always on my mind.

[Marine_Boy]

M Boy...

If you truly are one who does not have a problem with people and their religion, then we will get along fine, for I am a person and I have religion.

Yes we can get along fine. But could you please stop your preaching and talk kendo instead.

[DaQo'tah]

M boy...

Perhaps you misunderstand the point of this topic?

This topic is here because of the questions I have in some parts of Kendo and if they go against the Christian point of view,,

However, if you even glance at the history of this topic you will notice 2 things,,,,First you will notice a HUGE anti-Christian mood in the many posts that dwell on over-use of 4-letter words, (In deed, for some posters if you took out the "F word" there would be little left to read of their posts)...and thats a real shame, for it brings shame not only on their heads forever, but it is a shame that children could be reading the evil words as well....

The 2nd thing you will notice is that no matter what, I never stoop to showing disrespect to people,,,,even to evil and vile posters that have no business posting . I never lose my calm,,I never return Spit for Spit....for Im a Good Christian in deeds as well as words...My heart is reflected in my actions,,,,

I do not intend to back-down, I do not intend to go away,,,,But I shall do what I think is best. I think posting in my own way is best...

[Marine_Boy]

M boy...

Perhaps you misunderstand the point of this topic?

This topic is here because of the questions I have in some parts of Kendo and if they go against the Christian point of view,,

However, if you even glance at the history of this topic you will notice 2 things,,,,First you will notice a HUGE anti-Christian mood in the many posts that dwell on over-use of 4-letter words, (In deed, for some posters if you took out the "F word" there would be little left to read of their posts)...and thats a real shame, for it brings shame not only on their heads forever, but it is a shame that children could be reading the evil words as well....

The 2nd thing you will notice is that no matter what, I never stoop to showing disrespect to people,,,,even to evil and vile posters that have no business posting . I never lose my calm,,I never return Spit for Spit....for Im a Good Christian in deeds as well as words...My heart is reflected in my actions,,,,

I do not intend to back-down, I do not intend to go away,,,,But I shall do what I think is best. I think posting in my own way is best...

I'm not asking you to go away and I agree with you that the poster who use the "F" word so many times is extreamly crass.

Nor have I misunderstood the purpose of this thread. It is good that you did and will not bring yourself down to the evil and vile posts.

Yes, we all know you are a christian and how dedicated you are to it. But what I am trying to say is, it may be a good idea to cut back on your emphasis on being one in your posts (but that does not mean you have to denounce your religion), so that you don't get as much flak from everyone else.

[mystic_kendoka]

someone please tell me wat "Romans 14:16 " and "Luke 6:28" are..

DaQo'tah u are not mentally fit for kendo, please join these people instead
http://www.shinai.org/
they are 'swordsman' who have no regards for your faith nor do they impress theirs onto you..

this reminds me of a quote i once heard.. "fighting on the internet is like winning the disabled olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded..."

[Nanbanjin]

M Boy...

If you truly are one who does not have a problem with people and their religion, then we will get along fine, for I am a person and I have religion.


You're all tolerance. I suppose you're all love and understanding when it comes to abortion and gay marraige too?

The difference between you and a person with religion is a brain. Moron.

[ratdeau]

a few i like:
"Never argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference."
-unknown
Seem's to suit this tread. I really like you sense of humor. I have a great fun reading these posts. Please continue.

[D'Artagnan]

However, if you even glance at the history of this topic you will notice 2 things,,,,First you will notice a HUGE anti-Christian mood in the many posts that dwell on over-use of 4-letter words, (In deed, for some posters if you took out the "F word" there would be little left to read of their posts)...and thats a real shame, for it brings shame not only on their heads forever, but it is a shame that children could be reading the evil words as well....



Hi,

first off i'd like to state that i am not interested in getting involved with the debate on this thread, and am not about to offer my opinion on it.

But, the particular individual you are refferring to here is NOT a reflection on the members of kendo world forum, or even the global kendo community. He is just some stupid kid looking to cause trouble. I, and i expect the rest of the forum, think that his posts were irrelevant, offensive and rude. The language is intolerable, and i have reported his posts to the moderators, i would not expect him to last long.

[KhawMengLee]

M boy...

Perhaps you misunderstand the point of this topic?

This topic is here because of the questions I have in some parts of Kendo and if they go against the Christian point of view,,

However, if you even glance at the history of this topic you will notice 2 things,,,,First you will notice a HUGE anti-Christian mood in the many posts that dwell on over-use of 4-letter words, (In deed, for some posters if you took out the "F word" there would be little left to read of their posts)...and thats a real shame, for it brings shame not only on their heads forever, but it is a shame that children could be reading the evil words as well....

The 2nd thing you will notice is that no matter what, I never stoop to showing disrespect to people,,,,even to evil and vile posters that have no business posting . I never lose my calm,,I never return Spit for Spit....for Im a Good Christian in deeds as well as words...My heart is reflected in my actions,,,,

I do not intend to back-down, I do not intend to go away,,,,But I shall do what I think is best. I think posting in my own way is best...

No, there is not a huge anti-christian mood. Just anti-fanatic. One person has use f-word here...you seem to a, as i said before, a very ignorant person. You are once again taking one incident and judging on the whole...ie. you sound like the kind of person who see's on TV a korean eating dog meat, and then immediately proclaims all koreans eat dog meat...you and Mr Hitler really are alike.

Secondly, I'm getting tired of saying this, you claim to have not shown disrespect but clearly by your first two posts, you have. Saying that Chi is wrong and unchristian is ignorant because you have no idea what it is. Going further to say that if your Sensei asks you to practice this you will argue with him is even a greater insult. Take it however your deluded mind wants it, from the reaction of all the members here you can see that there seriously is something wrong with you.

Never return spit for spit? Dude, In the past week you have done nothing short of insulting the french, spouted racist slurs against muslims and have insulted my culture and faith. None of the kendoka I have encountered who are Christian(catholic, mormon, pretestant, etc) have ever had any problems...because they watched, tried, and experienced firsthand before judging...I seriously think you belong more on www.stormfront.com

evil and vile posters? Theory of relativity mate! To us you are the evil one, to you we are. Only difference here is 100 people think you are a nutter and you think 100 people are the nutters...hmnnnn....freedom and democracy wins here I guess...off to looney land for you.

My heart is reflected by my actions? Riiiiiiight so advocating war with other people and spouting your words as god's will is pretty much a clear vision of your heart. You know...I used to watch TV evangelists and when they would say, "I think that God wants us too..." I would just cringe...I never had the audacity to think I knew what the big guy wants...

p.s. Please don't qoute from This is Kendo...it really is a good book but you have no idea what you are talking about.

btw, why was Chuta's innovation, the kote so important to kendo? In fact why was the development of bogu and the shinai so important as well?

[KhawMengLee]

Now Dakotey, here's a theological question thrown back to you.

Does it matter that the philosophy of Jesus and the bible is not from God? Does it detract the teachings of Jesus if he is not the son of God?

To me, no. Because his philosophy, is there to promote peace and goodwill, so that we, as a society, can live. Thou shalt not kill...why...because it causes suffering, it causes revenge, it will cause a cycle of killing...in this it makes sense.

We don't just obey a teaching without first understanding and having a reason "why".

This is the difference between you and all other Christians who do kendo. You have read of the path, you think you know the path but you have yet to walk it. There is a big difference between imagination and actual experience.

Take away divinity of Christ and you have philosophy. Take away divinity from all our religions and you have philosophy. The philosophy is the same but is different only thru culture and locality.

Thus, the base of Christianity is the same with all other religions. In calling those faiths empty and meaningless, you are also describing your own as meaningless.

The base core of all our faiths is to let us live. To let us see. To set us free.

ps. When vikings die they go to Valhalla, where they fight, feast and fornicate for eternity. When muslims go to heaven, they are in paradise with wonderful gardens and beautiful maidens galore, When buddhists reach enlightenment there is no pain nor sorrow just the everlasting bliss of perfect harmony...why is it that Pagans seem to have the best afterlife? :wink:

[Marine_Boy]

ps. When vikings die they go to Valhalla, where they fight, feast and fornicate for eternity. When muslims go to heaven, they are in paradise with wonderful gardens and beautiful maidens galore, When buddhists reach enlightenment there is no pain nor sorrow just the everlasting bliss of perfect harmony...why is it that Pagans seem to have the best afterlife? :wink:

I am torn between going to valhalla and enlightenment..

Fighting, feasting and fornicating... :ogre: :lick:

[not-I]

someone please tell me w